Pay for governor, others studied

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Whether the governor and other top state officials should get their first raises in 14 years is the focus of the state Executive Salary Commission that met for the first time yesterday.

Raymond Fujii, administrator for the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association of Hawai'i and president of Account Executives Inc., was voted chairman of the commission. Sherrilee Dodson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity-Maui, was selected vice chairwoman.

The five-member commission must make its recommendations to the state Legislature by the 40th day of the 2004 legislative session, which will be sometime in early spring.

The panel is charged with recommending the compensation of the governor, lieutenant governor, the chief of staff and 16 department directors, about 32 deputy department heads and the deputy superintendent of the Department of Education.

Any raises for the governor or lieutenant governor would take effect in 2006. Raises for department heads, deputy department heads and deputy DOE superintendent would take effect in 2004.

The Legislature approved a bill introduced by the Lingle administration establishing an executive salary commission this past session. Gov. Linda Lingle said that when trying to put together a cabinet following her election in November 2002, many qualified people for top posts didn't apply for or accept jobs because of the salaries offered.

The governor now makes $94,780 annually, the lieutenant governor and the chief of staff, $90,041. Department heads make $85,302 and their deputies between $72,886 and $77,966 a year.

Commission members yesterday agreed to ask Bob Awana, Lingle's chief of staff, to gather comments on proposed changes to executive salaries from the department heads by Nov. 21. The commission will next meet Dec. 2.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.